When Michelle Hamer became a first-time mom, she realized quickly just how little she knew about infant nutrition. "I had a lot of questions about how much to feed and what a child should be eating."
Hamer's not alone. According to Dr. Nessa Bayer, a Toronto pediatrician and mother of two, new parents are overwhelmed by so many things when baby comes home, and the amount of information out there makes it even more confusing. "Infant nutrition is just one of the things they're trying to find out about, and it's hard to get all the messages straight," she says.
So, what are the truths and falsehoods of infant nutrition? Dr. Bayer tackles some of the most common concerns in this true or false quiz.
Mothers should breastfeed for at least six months
True. "Breastfeeding is the best. It is recommended to keep breastfeeding until six months of age and even up to two years," says Dr. Bayer. The World Health Organization agrees, adding that breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive development, protects infants against infectious and chronic diseases, reduces infant mortality due to common childhood illnesses and promotes faster recovery during illness.
All infant formulas are the same
False. If a mother doesn't breastfeed,Health Canada and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend an iron-fortified formula for all formula-fed infants. Most infant formulas are made with cow's milk; choose a soy-based alternative if your infant is allergic to the proteins in cow's milk formula or can't tolerate lactose. Still, there are even more variations on drugstore shelves.
When selecting a formula, Dr. Bayer suggests following the ABCs of infant nutrition:
• A is for Allergy. Partially hydrolized or "protein hydrolysate" formula is easier to digest and less likely to cause allergic reactions than cow's milk formula because the proteins have already been broken down.
• B is for Baby's digestion. Opt for 100 per cent whey protein. "Cow's milk protein is composed of both casein and whey, and whey is the one that's easier to digest," says Dr. Bayer.
• C is for Contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in breast milk. Some formulas are enhanced with DHA and ARA, which are omega-3 fatty acids and thought to be important for infant eyesight and brain development. According to the Mayo Clinic, however, research is inconclusive about the benefits of adding the fatty acids to infant formula.
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